Chris Froome (Team Ineos) has announced that he will start the 2020 season with the UAE Tour next month.

Chris Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, has been away from racing since his crash at the Criterium du Dauphiné last June. He suffered a string of injuries and underwent multiple surgeries, but he will be back at this year's Tour de France, aiming for his fifth title, the most in history. Froome will also face stiff competition within the team, as Dave Brailsford announced in early January that Egan Bernal and Geraint Thomas, who have won the last two Tour de France races, will be the leaders on Team Ineos.

In a video message posted Wednesday morning, Froome confirmed his participation in the week-long UAE tour, which begins on February 23.

"Hello everyone. Training is going very well." I am very happy to announce that I will be starting my season next month on a tour of the UAE starting in Dubai.

"It's a great place to start the season as it's a race I missed last year."

The seven-stage race offers four opportunities that sprinters can look forward to, along with two punchy finishes at Hatta Dam and Rafisa Dam, and a decisive summit finish at Jebel Hafeet.

Froom and Team Ineos had been working on ideas to start the season with a variety of races in the early months of the season, but after reportedly leaving training camp early in December, the Team Ineos director said, "He is not recovering: 'He is not well.

In another video released by the team earlier this month, Froome confirmed that the Tour de France was his main focus.

"The only appointment I have set for myself is the Tour de France, and until then I'll be working hard every week, making the most of every training camp, every race, continuing to build up to July and hopefully be ready on the start line in Nice in July," said Froome.